Hey guys! Glad you’re jazzed for the 40 Day Movement Challenge! I created a page on the site to track my progress. Let me know if you’re tracking yours, and I’ll add your website to the page! I’m optimistic and a little scared, but know that I WILL get through this challenge. Plus, it’s got a higher purpose, so I feel like I must succeed. The good news is that Day 1 = DONE! 
Oh ps, I can feel the soreness creeping in from that brutal total body circuit this morning. Jenna knows how to work it! Just knowing that I did 90 pushups* kind of blows my mind. *Yes, they were “modified” pushups, on my knees, but still – I’m a big fan of giving yourself credit when credit is due!
At any rate – tonight I whipped up a feast: Lemon Chicken Piccata!
The base was this Smart Taste Ronzoni Pasta that the company sent me to test out. It’s fortified with calcium, vitamin D and fiber. Nice!
Big fan of the nutritional stats on this box – 7g of fiber and 6g of protein? Love.
I based the rest of the dish off of this recipe, which had me sauté some lightly floured chicken tenders in savory butter & olive oil. How bad could it be?! 
I mixed the flour with some garlic salt and pepper so the chicken would be EXTRA flavorful. It sure did the trick!
After the chicken was cooked through, I transferred the tenders to a plate and covered with foil while I finished the rest of the dish.
Which included these fab ingredients: spinach and capers,
chicken broth, lemon juice and seasonings. So simple!
I sautéed some baby spinach in the leftover butter/olive oil and when it was wilted, I added some chicken broth, lemon juice, capers, dried parsley, red pepper flakes, garlic salt and pepper.
Let everything reduce for a couple minutes until the sauce gets a little thick. At this point I tasted the sauce and decided it needed a little somethin’ somethin’.
Some Bisignano’s Italian Dressing totally saved the day. LOVE THIS STUFF! Sadly, I think it’s only available locally, but any olive oil based vinaigrette probably would have done. 
Mix the spinach/sauce mixture with the pasta, then top with chicken and some diced roma tomatoes. You’re ready to chow, my friend – 20 minutes start to finish!
I just loved the crispiness that the olive oil and butter gave the chicken tenders. Nice and crunchy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside.
And those capers are a MUST in this dish. They lend such a unique flavor that I just adore!
I’m sad, Ben nabbed the leftovers for his lunch tomorrow. Pssht, whatevs. I’ll find something just as good…
I’m currently crunching on some candies that Ben swiped while out at happy hour a couple weeks ago. They’re like mini jolly ranchers and well, I can’t stop eating them. 
It’s ok, they’re smaller than a dime. So cute!
I’m trying to think of what I have to do tonight, and I’m drawing a blank! Oh yes, I have to pay some bills, but other than that I’m freeeeee! Gosh, whatever shall I do? I’m not good with free time. I usually don’t know what to do with it… We’ll see what I come up with.
Have a good night!
ps can you believe tomorrow’s already Thursday? Yes!
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How often do you use recipes?
I’ve used recipes for every dinner this week so far! Usually though, I just use them as a base and then add my own little spin. I like that better than following a recipe to the T. Know what I mean?
Holy. Yum. Girl that sounds fantastic!!!
I like to try new recipes as often as I can but that’s not usually very often. We usually use go-to recipes for dinner. Not recipes per say…
wow! that recipe sounds fantastic! it sounds so simple, but yet so full of flavor! my family would love this! thanks for sharing!
Wow! I´m tempted. That recipe looked AH-MAZING!
Holy Yum *-*
Hahahahaha!
I´m sure you´ll find something fun to do… You´ve got a world of possibilities…
Have a great night/Thursday!
Kisses from a really hot place,
Gabriela
That chicken piccata looks delicious! I don’t use recipes often but I wish I did!
I love capers. In some recipes, they definitely totally make the dish.
I think I have had those little candies, haha. They are so good!
I’m pretty bad at following recipes, even in baking where I know you aren’t really supposed to experiment too much. I probably use a recipe for inspiration 3 out of 5 times when I’m cooking.
Wow..your supper looks so yummy! I also added the 40 day Challenge to my blog.
Check it out: http://www.phablifestyle.com/fitness/
Ok, count me in, hold me accountable
kickin’ this bootie in high-gear–http://aminnesotalife.wordpress.com/molly-moves/
Great idea Kristin!!!
woah- that looks delish! i HAVE to try that dish asap!
WOW that looks awesome! im not good about using recipes
mainly bc im always in a hurry!
Depends on the mood – sometimes I’m feeling highly creative and I’ll buy things I’ve never used and toss them in a pot; when I’m cooking my mom’s goodies I like to stick to the recipe to make sure it turns out the way I remember!
Oh my gosh, that chicken dish looks DELICIOUS! I’m totally doing that this weekend
I wouldn’t have time/money to follow recipes everynight though :s
I use recipes very rarely – I generally just make it up as I go along, but I’m always reading cookbooks for added inspo, so I’m ‘recipe inspired’ most evenings
Have a good evening
[...] Comments « Lemon Chicken Piccata [...]
Like you, I usually start with a recipe but by the time I am finished it looks a little different than the original. Why wouldn’t you want to customize it to your own taste?
That pasta looks delicious. I have multiple half used boxes of the Smart Taste (spaghetti and penne), Barilla Plus (farfalle), and I just picked up some Dreamfields (more penne – yet to try). Love pasta.
I like to use recipes and then tweak them to what I have. That way I know the flavor should be good even if I use penne instead of shells.
I try new recipes once in a while, but find that sometimes I get so bogged down with the grocery shopping for ingredients that it’s not worth it. I like simple – nothing wrong with grilled chicken with veggies and a sweet potato or couscous. It’s healthy and delicious!
K
I just wanted to throw this out there–your blog is one of the best food blogs. I really enjoy keeping up with you and your healthy, balanced lifestyle! You set such a wonderful example of moderation and variety. you seem like a happy person and you don’t let food get in the way of anything! thanks!!